VENEZIANO WINS THREE OUT OF THREE IN THE VIC COFFEE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Announcement posted by Harvest Ideas 12 Oct 2011
Veneziano Coffee are relishing a clean sweep in the Australasian Specialty Coffee Association (AASCA) Victorian Coffee Championships held in Port Melbourne this weekend, taking home all three titles.
Craig Simon, Veneziano’s production manager and one of Australia’s few accredited Q cuppers, won both the Barista and Cup Tasting Championship with Jen Marks winning the Latte Art Championship title. Jen previously won the Pura Latte Art Smackdown at the Coffee Experience show in June of this year.
“It takes a huge team effort just to compete and to win all three competitions is quite unbelievable” says Veneziano’s CEO, Craig Dickson.
Eleven of Victoria’s best baristas competed in this year’s Barista Champion event, including Erin Sampson, Ronald Ngo, Remy Shpayzer and many more. In a fierce competition, Craig won first place, with Ronald Ngo from Five Senses second and Remy Shpayzer from Eclipse third.
“It’s such an honour to place first amongst the group of extremely talented baristas standing in this room with me” says Craig of his surprise win.
Following 15 minutes of preparation time, each barista must complete their entire presentation in 15 minutes during which they must serve four espressos, four cappuccinos and four espresso-based signature drinks to four sensory judges. During this time they are assessed on technique by two technical judges with one head overseeing each competitor’s routine.
Craig selected a single origin coffee from the Finca El Manzano farm in El Salvador. During a visit to the farm earlier this year, Craig was appointed as an honorary family member by coffee farmer, Emilio Lopez. His competition espresso blend consisted of natural and wet processed versions of the coffee, and in his signature drink Craig served a cherry reduction with a layer of orange-rind infused cream topped with an espresso, to enhance the lovely, rich cherry flavour in the coffee.
“I was inspired by Emilio’s wife’s cooking, who always made basic ingredients taste absolutely amazing” says Craig, “So, I wanted to use simple ingredients to produce a wonderful intense, complex flavour experience.”
In addition, Veneziano’s winning streak was boosted by Jen Mark’s first place win in the Victorian Pura Latte Art Championship. Jen’s three designs were a free pour heart-patterned macchiato, free pour latte with two rosettas back to back and her signature art ‘snowflake’ design consisting of five rosettas.
“I’m still a little shocked at winning, because this is really only the second time I’ve competed in latte art” says Jen.
Veneziano’s Erin Sampson presented a spectacular signature drink that wowed the crowd with it’s sensory journey of a floral aroma released over dry ice, followed by an espresso topped with a blueberry and orange marmalade meringue-foam to mimic her cupping experience of her competition coffee.
One of the coffees Erin used in her blend was an interesting Indian grown Ethiopian Agaro from the Sethuraman Estate, with the coffee grower, Nishant Gurjer, in attendance at the Victorian competition.
Veneziano now have in their sights the Queensland competition this coming November as the Queensland manager and last year’s winner and national finalist, Jean-Paul Sutton, will be competing again, with the hope that they will take three state winners of four competition categories through to the national competition.
As winners of the Victorian Coffee Championship, Craig and Jen will proceed to the AASCA Australian Coffee Championships, at the inaugural 2012 Melbourne International Coffee Expo, May 4 - 6 at the Showgrounds.
Additional information Veneziano Coffee:
Specialty coffee roasters; supporter of certified organic and certified Fairtrade coffee; supporter of direct trade and with producers and farming cooperatives; onsite barista training school of excellence; First Pour cafs and showrooms; home of Australian barista and latte art champions, national and world accredited coffee judge and licenced Q Cupper; recipient of countless awards and proud supplier to over 500 of Australia’s best cafes. Located: 22 Bond Street Abbotsford, VIC and 369 Montague Rd, West End, QLD.
Craig Simon, Veneziano’s production manager and one of Australia’s few accredited Q cuppers, won both the Barista and Cup Tasting Championship with Jen Marks winning the Latte Art Championship title. Jen previously won the Pura Latte Art Smackdown at the Coffee Experience show in June of this year.
“It takes a huge team effort just to compete and to win all three competitions is quite unbelievable” says Veneziano’s CEO, Craig Dickson.
Eleven of Victoria’s best baristas competed in this year’s Barista Champion event, including Erin Sampson, Ronald Ngo, Remy Shpayzer and many more. In a fierce competition, Craig won first place, with Ronald Ngo from Five Senses second and Remy Shpayzer from Eclipse third.
“It’s such an honour to place first amongst the group of extremely talented baristas standing in this room with me” says Craig of his surprise win.
Following 15 minutes of preparation time, each barista must complete their entire presentation in 15 minutes during which they must serve four espressos, four cappuccinos and four espresso-based signature drinks to four sensory judges. During this time they are assessed on technique by two technical judges with one head overseeing each competitor’s routine.
Craig selected a single origin coffee from the Finca El Manzano farm in El Salvador. During a visit to the farm earlier this year, Craig was appointed as an honorary family member by coffee farmer, Emilio Lopez. His competition espresso blend consisted of natural and wet processed versions of the coffee, and in his signature drink Craig served a cherry reduction with a layer of orange-rind infused cream topped with an espresso, to enhance the lovely, rich cherry flavour in the coffee.
“I was inspired by Emilio’s wife’s cooking, who always made basic ingredients taste absolutely amazing” says Craig, “So, I wanted to use simple ingredients to produce a wonderful intense, complex flavour experience.”
In addition, Veneziano’s winning streak was boosted by Jen Mark’s first place win in the Victorian Pura Latte Art Championship. Jen’s three designs were a free pour heart-patterned macchiato, free pour latte with two rosettas back to back and her signature art ‘snowflake’ design consisting of five rosettas.
“I’m still a little shocked at winning, because this is really only the second time I’ve competed in latte art” says Jen.
Veneziano’s Erin Sampson presented a spectacular signature drink that wowed the crowd with it’s sensory journey of a floral aroma released over dry ice, followed by an espresso topped with a blueberry and orange marmalade meringue-foam to mimic her cupping experience of her competition coffee.
One of the coffees Erin used in her blend was an interesting Indian grown Ethiopian Agaro from the Sethuraman Estate, with the coffee grower, Nishant Gurjer, in attendance at the Victorian competition.
Veneziano now have in their sights the Queensland competition this coming November as the Queensland manager and last year’s winner and national finalist, Jean-Paul Sutton, will be competing again, with the hope that they will take three state winners of four competition categories through to the national competition.
As winners of the Victorian Coffee Championship, Craig and Jen will proceed to the AASCA Australian Coffee Championships, at the inaugural 2012 Melbourne International Coffee Expo, May 4 - 6 at the Showgrounds.
Additional information Veneziano Coffee:
Specialty coffee roasters; supporter of certified organic and certified Fairtrade coffee; supporter of direct trade and with producers and farming cooperatives; onsite barista training school of excellence; First Pour cafs and showrooms; home of Australian barista and latte art champions, national and world accredited coffee judge and licenced Q Cupper; recipient of countless awards and proud supplier to over 500 of Australia’s best cafes. Located: 22 Bond Street Abbotsford, VIC and 369 Montague Rd, West End, QLD.